Crate



Dec. 6, 1932. w. w. ROBINSON CRATE Filed July 28. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ORNEYS Dec. 1932- w. w. ROBINSON 1,890,067

CRATE Filed July 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

T W I 12". 4o E %F\ BY ATTORNEYS ,7 4% mm T Patented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CRETE Application filed July 28,

The present invention relates to crates and more especially, though not necessarily exclusively, to crates for holding containers such as milk bottles.

An object of the invention is to provide a construction for such crates having, among others, the advantages that crates for quart sizes may have the same over-all size as crates for other sizes, such as those for pints and half-pints, to permit stacln'ng of the crates; and the advantage of a particularly rugged construction obtained with exceptional simplicity in manufacture.

The crates of the present invention include grid wires for spacing and positioning bottles, and frame wires to which the grid wires are attached, with novel means for supporting the latter in connection with the stacking irons of the crates, and in some instances the invention may include in combination therewith a reentrant channel or groove in the crate sides, into which the frame wires may extend for the purpose of securing the maxi mum space for bottles, without relying on said grooves to support the frame wires, but

, utilizing for this purpose the stacking irons of the crates.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate examples of the preferred embodiment of the invention, but which are not to be taken as a definition of the limits thereof, reference for that purpose being had to the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a milk bottle crate embodying one of the principal features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary sectional view, showing the interior of one of the corners of the crate of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the same scale as Figure :2, illustrating the bottom or bottle-supporting wires of the crate and the meansfor supporting the bottom wire frame thereof;

Figure 1 is a top plan view on the same scale as Figures 2 and 3 of a crate embodying a further feature of the invention, being 1931. Serial No. 553,495.

.ccompanying igures 1 to 3 j an - inclusive, there is shown a milk bottle crate constructed in accordance with the present invention and including wooden sides 11 and 12 and ends 14 and 15 of wood, preferably cross-grained, durable and relatively highly resistant to heat and moisture, such for example as selected tupelo gum. The crate is preferably provided entirely around its bottom with runners 17 of heavy gage galvanized channel iron. The corners of the crate are exteriorly secured together and reinforced with exterior right angular corner braces 20. The end pieces 1d and 15 may be provided with the usual hand holes.

In accordance with the invention, the crate is provided at each of its corners with a full length interior corner brace 23, whose upper end is formed as a stacking iron 24, and which, intermediate its ends, is provided with grid frame wire supporting means.

In the preferred form of the invention selected for illustration, this means consists of a supporting shoulder 26 formed in the corner brace, providing a supporting channel in which is received and supported at each corner of the crate, each grid frame wire- 28,

between the brace and the wooden sides and ends of the crate.

In the present example of the invention, upper and lower bottle spacing grid wires 30 and 31 are provided and secured to the grid frame wires 28 as shown in Figure 2, thus providing a construction in which none of the wires extend through the side or end walls of the crate. To the lowermost frame wire a number of bottle-supporting wires 33 are similarly secured.

merever two wires cross in overlapping it can be stacked with the crate of Figure 1,

while its grid frames are designed to hold smaller bottles without wasting any of the 1 available space within the crate.

The bottom channel irons 17, the exterior corner braces 20, and the interior corner braces 23 are-all preferably as described in connection with the crate of Figure 1, and the grid wires and bottle supportingwires are secured at their joints and to the frame wires by electric welding, as indicated in Figure 6. Also, the grid frame wires are supported by the interior corner braces 20 in the manner already described. In order, however, to provide transversely and longitudinally the maximum space within the crate for the reception of the bottles of smaller size, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4, the end pieces 14 and 15' and side pieces 11 and 12' are provided on their interior faces with a series of grooves 40 into which the outwardly waved or curved portions 41 of the frame wires 28 may project so that transversely and longitudinally of the crate there is saved and made available as bottle receiving space, measured linearly, a distance to twice the diameter of the frame wires. It will be noted ond frame wire to which said sup orting wires are secured, and interior angu ar corner braces for said sides and ends provided with supports for said frame wires.

3. A crate containin grid wires, a grid frame wire carrying sai id wires, and corner bracingstackin devlces for said crate having supporting oulders for said frame we.

4. A crate containing grid wires, a grid frame wire carrying said grid wires, and interior corner braces for said crate having grooved frame 'wire supporting portions.

5. A crate containing grid wires, a grid frame wire carrying sa1d grid wires, and interior corner braces for said crate having grooved frame wire supporting portions receiving and supporting said frame wire between said cornerbraces and the crate corners. '6; A crate containin grid wires, a id frame wire carrying sa1d grid wires, an interior corner braces for said crate provided with supports engaging and positioning said grid frame wire in said crate, said frame wire intermediate adjacent crate corners having a plurality of outwardly curved portions, and the interior of said crate being grooved to receive said curved portions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

' WILLIAM W. ROBINSON.

that, in accordance with the invention, the

achieved, which stands up despite rough treatment, owing in large part to the fact that the frame wires cannot pull out from the corners when subjected to unintentional and occasionally severe pressure in an upward or downward direction during use of the crate.-

What is claimed is: 1. A crate containing grid wires, a'frame wire connected therewith, and corner braces for said crate provided with supports engaging andpositioning said frame wire in said crate. a

2. A crate having wooden sides and ends, crossed grid wires therein and supporting CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,890,067. Dece ber '6. 1932.

WILLIAM W. ROBINSON.

.It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the I above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 37, after "distance" insert the word "equal"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with vthis correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the'casc in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of February, A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore. (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

